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Warren Zevon explained that the song was written "really fast" while on marijuana on the synthesizer ostinato. The song is also considered a satire/homage to the dead band's song (Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"). Warren had read a novel around the time the song was written by Newton Thornburg titled Black Angus and got the idea for the line "the cattle all have brucellosis" from it. The song was a common live favorite of Warren's and made it many set lists subsequent to its release. It is probably the only popular song ever written which contains a reference to brucellosis.

"Play It All Night Long" is in the key of A minor. Throughout the whole song the chord progression: | Am | F | C | G | remains constant to the end. The song features short four-bar guitar solos between choruses and verses and a longer guitar solo at the end played until the song completely fades out.